Method of allowing for expansion and contraction of wire fences



0. WILLIAMS. WIRE FENCE.

Patented Sept. 7,1858.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OLLY WILLIAMS, OF ST. LOUIS COUNTY, MISSOURI.

METHOD OF ALLOWING FOR EXPANSION AND CONTRACTION OF WIRE FENCES.

Specification of Letters Patent No.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OLLY IVILLIAMs, of the county of St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, have invented a new and Improved Mode of Constructing, Making, and Erecting Tire Fences; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and the letters of reference marked thereon.

The nature of my invention consists in attaching the wires in such a manner, that they can expand and contract with freedom, and so that they shall always have the same tension, or tightness; and of so arranging them on friction rollers that an angle can be made in the fence without increasing the friction on the wires, and so that each and every wire shall have the same degree of tension.

The constructing, making, and erecting of this fence, will be understood, from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification.

Figure l is an elevation, Fig. 3 is a plan of the fence, and Fig. 2 is an elevation of an intermediate post.

To the post A I secure the shaft B, so that it can revolve freely in the lugs D, and to it I attach the straps c c, &c., so as to wind around it as shown. The wires being fastened to these straps, follows them in their convolutions around the shaft. To the top end of the shaft B I attach the lever or sector F, and to it I fasten the cord J as shown at R; which leads over the sheave G; the sheave being secured in an iron or wooden block on top of the post- I. The weight H is secured to the cord, as shown. The wires S S, &c., are strung through the post K, K and lead over the friction rollers 0 0 0, &c., and are fastened to the adjusting screws, in the post P, of which there is only a plan shown. The friction rollers 0 0 0, &c., are secured in blocks, on the outside of the post L. Each wire has its own adjusting screw in the post P, so that they can all be tightened alike. In fencing over hilly or uneven ground, where one post has to be elevated above the other so as to make an angle in the wires, the friction on them becomes so great that it is impossible to draw the wires sufficiently tight, without putting so great a stress on them, as to injure their 21,459, dated September 7, 1858.

strength. I overcome this objection, by placing friction rollers in the post K K as shown at N, by the dotted lines, and lead the wires under them in one post, and over them in the other, and by the use of the friction rollers 0 0 0, &c., (to be used on every post where there is an angle,) I make as many angles in the fence as I please, or as many as may be necessary, and am still able to tighten the wires without obstruction from friction.

After I have the fence erected as above described, I string the wires, and adjust them, by means of the adjusting screws in the post P, until they are all of about the same tension. Then with the lever, or seetor, F on the shaft B, I draw up the wires until they are sufiiciently tight, I then attach the weight H and cast off the pawl Q. The weight then keeps the wires tight, and rises and falls as they expand or contract. The pawl Q, and the ratchet wheel E, are to hold the shaft in position when the wires are being tightened, and are cast off so soon as the weight is applied. The stays, M M, &c., are strung on the wires, so as to fit them, and so that any force coming against one, will be conveyed to, and resisted by all of them, and thus cause the weight H to rise and the wires to yield, to any heavy strain against them.

In fencing over a level plane, I do not design using the friction rollers, shown in the posts K K, but simply a thimble, or thimbles, as shown at T, Fig. 2. There are to be as many of the posts A used, having the shaft, or reel, attached to it, as circumstances may require, and the whole fence to be so modified in construction as to suit the various positions into which it is to be placed.

I do not claim broadly the tightening of the wires by means of a weight; but

IVhat I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is The combination of the shaft P with the post A, and the application of all the wires to the said shaft-whereby all the wires are tightened at one and the same time-by one and the same weight -substantially in the manner set forth.

OLLY WILLIAMS.

WVitnesses:

AMos BROADNAX, CLARENCE DELAFIELD. 

